What is Contemporary?
Many different characteristics work together to help make contemporary literature what it is and how we know it as we do. Contemporary literature first became popular in the 1960s. Normally the characters are depicted as real people with problems that can be solved. Typically these conflicts are internal conflicts that the character has to learn to solve by themselves through an experience or some type of motivation. The character can change in a good way, or a bad way; either way the main character is going to change throughout a contemporary story. The main character can often find themselves alone against society, which can lead the reader to infer that society is the antagonist in most contemporary stories.
Connection to "The Fat Girl" |
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The story we read in class, "The Fat Girl", is contemporary fiction for a couple of reasons. One reason it is contemporary fiction is that it is based on a character that is personally flawed. Louise was constantly struggling with her weight and trying to please her husband, parents, and friends. Another reason it is contemporary fiction is that it is in contemporary times, or modern times. Lastly, throughout the story, Louise becomes more aware of her problem with her weight, and with the help of her roommate, Carrie, she is able to overcome this problem, but then caves in later in the story and goes back to being overweight.
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